Stop-cock box



(No Model.)

E. P. H. GAPRON.

STOP COOK BOX.

Patented Apr. 14,1891.

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Urvrrnn STATES i TEN O C ELISI-IA P. H. OAPRON, or NORWALK, CONNECTICUT.

' STOP-COCK BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,140, dated AprilApplication filed J 1890- To all whom it may concern:

1 3e it known that I, ELISHA P. H. CAPRON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Norwalk, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStop-Cock Boxes; and I do hereby declare-the following to be a full,clear, and exact description-of the in-- vention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to certain novel features involved in theconstruction of stopcock boxes for water, gas, and other pipes, as willbe hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of thetubes or pipes separated from each other. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionof the outer pipe on a line with the internal teeth. Fig. 3 is atransverse section of the adjustable pipe on a line with the externaltransverse teeth. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the stop-cock boxcom plete. Fig. 5 is a detail of the cap and the top of the top pipe.Fig. 6 is a detail view of the supporting-arch hereinafter described.

It will be understood that the object of a stop-cock box is to affordeasy access to the stop-cock of service-pipes, that the supply of wateror gas may be readily controlled. One of the great disadvantages metwith in the use of these boxes as now constructed is that no adequatemeans are provided to easily adust the top of the box to the varyingheight of the grade.

I am aware that a telescopic pipe having screw-threaded surfaces orengaginglugs has been the subject of Letters Patent; but practice hasdemonstrated that these forms of construction are not unobjectionable.

The object of my invention is to provide a stop-cock box that can bereadily adjusted to conform with the line of grade, and also tocompensate the expansion and contraction of freezing and thawing.

Referring in detail by letter to the various parts of my invention, Aisthe lowermost and internal pipe, which is constructed with the desireddiameter, having the base-plate B rigidly secured to its lower end. Asthe lower end of the pipe is cut away on each side to Serial No.365,116. (No model.)

O reach-upward from the inner edges of the plate or plates 1 and, beinga little lower than the top of the openings a, will prevent the samefrom coming in contact with the service pipe. though the service be madeof lead it will not be injured by the cutting-edges of the pipe A comingin contact therewith. The shoulders O are not connected to the pipe A,but are properly re-enforced and braced upon each side by the braces c,as shown in Fig. 1. A short distance above the shoulders just describedthe pipe A decreases slightly in diameter, forming the offset 2, whilenear the middle of the length of said pipe it is further provided withthe collar a, cast thcreon,upon whichwillnormallyrestthe adjustablesection D, which is of proper diameter to snugly encircle the pipe A. Alongitudinal groove 3 is cast in the outer side of pipe A, while a ribdis provided on the inner surface of the section D, which is adapted toengage with said groove. thus preventing all lateral movement of saidsection when it is in the operative position. When the adjustablesection is resting on the collar a, the top of the pipeA will extendslightly above said section, that the latter may have sufficient roomfor movement between said collar and the set-screw a secured in the topof pipe A, as shown. Said set-screw also prevents the adjustable sectionbeing accidentally raised off of pipe A. This adj ustability of theseparts constitutes a valuable feature of my invention, as it enables theupper part of the box to rise and lower with the action of the frost.

Upon opposite sides of the adjustable section D, reaching from the topto the bottom thereof, I cast a series of transverse teeth E. 3

It will be understood that;

fourth of the surface of the circumference of the section'D, leaving theremaining surface thereof clear. The stop-cock box is completed by theaddition of the top piece G, which is of proper diameter to inclose theadjustable section D, with its teeth E. This top pipe G is provided onits inner surface, in like manner, with a series of teeth H, which arelike the teeth E, except that they terminate in longitudinal ribs 5, soplaced that the free ends of the teeth will enter freely between theends of the teeth E. It will be seen that the teeth H will move freelyup or down on the blank sides of the adjustable section when T5 the pipeG is lowered or raised into position over the same. When the top pipeGis thus placed over the section D, it will be seen that it may besecured at any desired point by a lateral turn thereof, thus causing theteeth H to enter between the teeth E, and when the teeth strike againstthe respective ribs of the other teeth the operator will know that thefull bearing-surface thereof is utilized. A reverse movement of the pipeG will disen- 2 5 gage the teeth, when such pipe may be raised orlowered or entirely removed. Said longitudinal ribs serve the additionalpurpose of strengthening the teeth. The top of the pipe G is providedwith the locking-cap I, constructed as shown in Fig. 5. This cap consists of a disk-like lid adapted to snugly fit in the top opening of thepipe G, which is provided with the lips J, placed somewhat obliquely tothe pipe to act as threads of a 3 5 screw, that the depending transversearm K on said lid will engage therewith, and when the lid is rotated bereadily secured. The top of the lid is provided with a nut, which iscountersunk and cast therewith, so that a 0 wrench may be used toeffectively secure the lid in position, and thus necessitate the use ofa wrench when it is desired to remove the lid.

All the parts of the lid are preferably cast 5 integrally, and as thenut on the top thereof is'sunken below the surface it is not liable tobe broken off.

I have described a preferred form of construction for all the variousparts; but I desire to state that, if so preferred, the longitudinalgroove and rib in the side of the adj ustable section and pipe A mightbe dispensed with, and in lieu thereof a slot may be provided in thesaid section, through which shall reach a set-screw connected to thepipe A. The adjustable section may be dispensed with in climates wherethe action of the frost is not felt, in which case the teeth E are caston the surface of pipe A and adapted to engage the teeth H, asdescribed.

In operation an opening is made in the usual manner down to thestop-cock on the service-pipe, and the pipe A, with its connected base,which is cast integrally therewith, is

placed over the stopcock, so that the shoulders C will rest upon theservice-pipe. The adjustable section D is then placed upon this pipe sothat the internal longitudinal rib thereon will engage with the groovein the pipe A, when the set-screw may be secured in the upper part ofsaid pipe, and thus prevent the liability of the adjustable sectionbeing accidentally removed therefrom. The adjustable section-restingupon the collar a is now ready to receive the top pipe G, which islowered around the same, and when the top thereof is on a line with thegrade a lateral turn will cause the teeth H to enter be tween the teethE until the ribs are reached,

when the work is done, except to fill in the earth around the pipe.

Having thus described my invention, further reference to the variousparts is deemed unnecessary.

lVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an adjustable stop-cock box for water and gas, the pipe A, restingon and cast 1ntegrally with the base B, the shoulder C, arrangeddiametrically opposite on the outer side of the pipe A and adapted torest upon the service-pipe, the adjustable section D, having thetransverse teeth and the longitudinal rib on the outer sides thereof andfurther provided with the internal rib adapt-- ed to engage the groovein the pipe A, the collar a, secured around the pipe A and arranged toreceive the weight of the ad ustable section, and the top pipe G, havlngon its internal surface teeth H, terminating in a longitudinal rib, saidteeth being adapted to engage with corresponding teeth on the ad ustablesection and arranged to encompass the adjustable section and be securedby the teeth by a lateral turn, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the pipe A, having at its lower end the baseadapted to fit over a service-pipe and having the set-screw a at itsupper end, the adjustable section provided with lateral teeth, and theupper pipe G, provided with internal teeth adapted to engage theexternal teeth of the said adjustable section and having a removable capat its upper end, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the pipe A, having in its outer surfacealongitudinal groove and secured integrally to the rectangular base B,

having the independent shoulders O, the adjustable section provided withlateral teeth terminating in the longitudinal rib and having thevertical interior rib, the upper pipe G, provided with internal teethadapted to engage the teeth on the outer side of the adj ustablesection, and the cap I, having the depending transverse arm K to theouter integrallysecured nut, all substantially as described.

4;. In a stop-cock box for water and gas, the combination of the toppipe G, having the series of interior transverse teeth H, each seriesoccupying about one-fourth of the circumference of the pipe and engagingwith the teeth of the section D, the adjustable section D,

provided on each side with the series of external transverse teeth, eachseries oecupy- I up and down thereon with the action of the *0 ing aboutone-fourth of the circumference of frost, substantially as described.the pipe and having the vertical interior rib, In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in and the pipe A, the bifurcated end of which ispresence of two Witnesses.

5 secured to the hase-plate B, carrying the independent shoulder 0, bothof which are cast ELISHA OAPRON' integrally with said pipe and furtherpro- Witnesses:

vided with the longitudinal groove adapted WV. H. MALONE,

to allowthe adjustable sect-ion to move freely H. O. MITCHELL.

